UKNIP News Agency has reported during the coldest night of the year so far in Kent, a rescue operation was initiated for four migrant vessels caught in a standoff with two French warships. The migrants, in a desperate attempt to reach English waters, threatened to jump into the icy sea, prompting a major rescue mission involving lifeboats from Dungeness and Eastbourne, as well as two Border Force Vessels.
As temperatures plunged to a reported minus 7 degrees Celsius, approximately 85 migrants were caught in a tense confrontation with the French warships. This precarious situation raised serious concerns for their safety.
To address the emergency, lifeboats from Dungeness and Eastbourne were quickly deployed. The situation escalated when one migrant vessel disappeared, leading to the Coastguard deploying spotter plane 224 for assistance. The Eastbourne lifeboat carried out an extensive search following sightings of a blue light, which was potentially linked to the rescue operation of three other migrant vessels.
In a successful effort, over 85 migrants were safely brought ashore, clad in Pulsar Thermal Overalls and Metal foil Blankets to combat the extreme cold. The rescue, completed just after midnight on Sunday, also involved paramedics who immediately checked the migrants for signs of hypothermia upon their arrival.
The RNLI has been contacted for comment
